1934 Classic Cars for Sale

The Chrysler Airflow went on sale in January 1934 and was immediately controversial. Walter Chrysler and Carl Breer had built a car shaped by wind tunnel testing, with the engine moved forward over the front axle, a fully integrated steel body, and a coefficient of drag that would not be matched by a production American car for decades. The public hated it. Sales were roughly 11,000 units in a market where Chrysler expected far more. The grille was hastily revised mid-year. None of the fixes worked.

The Airflow's commercial failure should not obscure its engineering importance. Every American car with a monocoque body, a balanced front-to-rear weight distribution, and a low hood line owes something to the 1934 Airflow. The market rejected it. History has been kinder. Original unmodified Airflows with no grille changes, no aftermarket hood ornaments, and original drivetrain are among the most important American cars of the decade, and the collector market has recognized this.

Duesenberg's SJ, with the centrifugal supercharger producing an estimated 320 horsepower, was being delivered to customers in 1934. These cars could exceed 130 mph. Clark Gable owned one. Gary Cooper owned one. The social history of the SJ clientele is as well-documented as the mechanical specifications, which makes provenance research both possible and rewarding. There are no anonymous SJ Duesenbergs. Every chassis has a known history.